Outlook Express is a basic email client that came bundled with versions of windows from 98 to Server 2003. Microsoftofficially discontinued the product with the launch of Vista, though you canstill run it with some workarounds. However, we don’t recommend trying that because Microsoft will actively remove Outlook Express from your system if discovered.

The successor to Outlook Express is now Windows Mail , though at one point it was also called Windows Live Mail. Confusing, right? Here we walk through how to use either Windows Mail or Outlook as your alternatives, but first you might want to check out our guide to Microsoft’s email services Hotmail No More! Microsoft Outlook Email Services Explained Hotmail No More! Microsoft Outlook Email Services Explained Stop searching for Hotmail! The terminology surrounding the various Microsoft Outlook email services is confusing. If you no longer know whether it's called Outlook web app, Outlook Online, or other, let us explain. Read More to get your head around it all.

If you’re still holding onto Outlook Express or have made the switch to a different client, please let us know in the comments below.

Using Outlook Express on Windows 10

Microsoft no longer supports Outlook Express and hasn’tdone so for over a decade. Microsoft is so adamant about it that Windows 10 will automatically uninstall the program from your system every time it performs a major update. The fact that Microsoft is controlling what programs you may run,through the use of forced automatic updates Pros & Cons of Forced Updates in Windows 10 Pros & Cons of Forced Updates in Windows 10 Updates will change in Windows 10. Right now you can pick and choose. Windows 10, however, will force updates onto you. It has advantages, like improved security, but it can also go wrong. What's more... Read More , is a controversial one, but it’s unlikely to change.

We advise that you stop using Outlook Express. It’s an outdated client and has been superseded by superior ones, which we’ll detail later. However, if you are insistent on using Outlook Express, then there is a workaround.

The folks at Run As XP have developed a version of Outlook Express that will run on all modern versions of Windows. It’ll cost you $20 for a license key, which you can obtain once you’ve downloaded and installed the program. It also supports Fidolook, an extension which adds support for message headers, templates, and other customization.

Windows 10 will still uninstall this programautomatically when your system updates. As such, you’ll also need to use their Updates Disabler program. This allows you to disable Windows Update entirely 5 Ways to Temporarily Turn Off Windows Update in Windows 10 5 Ways to Temporarily Turn Off Windows Update in Windows 10 Windows Update keeps your system patched and safe. In Windows 10 you're at the mercy of Microsoft's schedule, unless you know hidden settings and tweaks. We'll help you keep Windows Update under control. Read More .

Bear in mind that having Windows Update disabledall the time will mean you won’t get security patches, new features, and other changes to Windows 10. We stronglyadviseyou to leave Windows Update turned on!

If you don’t think Outlook Express is right for you anymore, keep reading for three alternative options.

Option 1: Use Windows Mail as an Alternative

If you’re looking for another simple email client that comes with your system by default , you should consider using Mail . Do a system search for it. While it’s not the most feature-rich email client, it does the job if you’re not after all the thrills of something like Outlook. It also integrates with the Calendar and People apps on your system.

To get started, click Add account and select the account you wishto link. You can use POP/IMAP, iCloud, Gmail, Outlook.com, and more. It’s as simple as entering the necessary credentials. The Mail app doesn’t store anything locally, so all the emails you see will be ones stored on the email server itself.

As Windows Mail doesn’t store anythinglocally, you can’t bring across anything from Outlook Express. If you were using POP/IMAP on Express, that’s not much of a problem anyway because it’ll sync all your emails across.

To adjust your settings, click the cog wheel . This will bring up a number of options like Personalization , Automatic Replies and Signature , though you might find some of these inaccessible depending on your email server’s settings.

Option 2: Import Your Outlook Express Data to Outlook

Despite using the same Outlook branding, Outlook Express isn’t a stripped down version of its Office counterpart. The two programs were created from two different codebases. Nevertheless, it’s possible to export your data from Outlook Express and then import it into Outlook, providing both versions are 32-bit. For more information on compatibility, read our article on the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit Windows .

To begin, open Outlook Express and navigate to File > Export email > Email messages… , then select Microsoft Exchange as the format, confirm the message that appears, then choose the folder you wish to export to.